DAILY NEWS

VOLUME I

FRIDAY, MAY 2, 2025

JOHNGRIFFINSELIG.COM

Rhodes performing at Vino's Brew Pub

Vino's Brew Pub Event Story

“Machete Mastectomy, get these f*ckers off of me,” said Henry Rhodes, who performed at Vino’s Saturday while wearing sweat-smeared clown makeup. Rhodes and many others say the venue creates a safe and inclusive space for the small, but flourishing, queer community in Little Rock, ARK.

Drawing crowds with their house-brewed ales and live music from local bands, Vino’s Brew Pub, established in 1990, prides itself in creating an environment where everyone is welcome – even young people. With the addition of in-house root beer, Vino’s host shows open to all ages, encouraging anyone to have a night of bona-fide fun, music, and community.

“You could come here and see absolutely anything on a Saturday night,” said Ginny O’Neill (20), an audience member who is a third year at University of Arkansas Fayetteville (UoA). Growing up in Little Rock, she consistently went to Vino’s as a teenager and never felt outcasted. O’Neill said, “Everyone feels equal here.”

BEST OF VINO'S, PAGE 21

The Second City: Building Confidence and Creativity

“Every week is a new surprise, someone [always] has a new character that makes me happy,” said Kelsey Norwood. She fosters an accepting but respectful environment in her classroom, where she helps students in the process of better writing build confidence and community.

Established in December of 1959, The Second City (TSC) offers various classes throughout the year via their training center, providing students with resources to fully indulge themselves in comedy.

Kelsey Norwood, 34, teaches Writing I and Screenplay at TSC, where she often goes over comedic writing techniques by having her students read and watch sketches.

“It keeps it interesting,” she said.

But her journey didn’t start there. Born in a small town north of Boston, Mass., Norwood decided to jump start her career at University of Massachusetts Boston (UMASS Boston)

However, Norwood found academic writing too constricting, not allowing room for levity. “It’s so weird that you’re not supposed to be funny in academic writing,” said Norwood.

Note from Editor in Chief:

Photo of John Griffin Selig sitting on a beach

My name is John Griffin Selig, and I'm a writer, comedian, and part-time curmudgeon. Need someone to make you laugh - well, I'm that guy! I am currently a third year Multi-Media Journalism student at Loyola University Chicago with a passion for crafting stories, but more specifically, writing sketch comedy and journalism.

From a very young age, I loved media - it didn't matter if it was watching 30 Rock, reading the Sunday comics, or just flipping through magazines at the grocery store. I was drawn to stories, characters, and the way people communicated ideas, whether through punchlines or page layouts. It wasn’t just about being entertained, it was about feeling connected, curious, and inspired to understand how the world worked and how people made sense of it through media.

I began writing in early 2023 after one of my professors inspired me to write creatively. From writing an analysis on Erykah Badu's Green Eyes to writing about the historical roots of drag queens, I fell in love with words. After acing that class, I decided to take writing classes at The Second City. There I learned how to write sketches and implement comedic writing techniques into my work. I still take classes at The Second City, when my schedule allows for it.

I began my journalism writing career at the beginning of my junior year. I loved sketch comedy writing, but did not want to hinder my writing ability and trap myself to one niche. Since then I have been applying myself to any and every news story around. (The AP Style textbook to me is like Los Angeles to highways, I love it!)

There's three things I love: Creating characters that are sometimes deemed unbearable, writing news stories that go over the word requirement, and my dogs, Snoop and Tate. Well, I guess that's four. I hope you enjoy my work as much as I've enjoyed creating it. This is an apart of me that I want to share with you. Read, Watch, and Enjoy!

A signature of the name John Griffin Selig

Resumé

Skills

Expert use of Google Docs, Google Slides, Google Sheets, Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Microsoft Excel
Understanding of Adobe Premiere Pro and Adobe Photoshop & Adobe Bridge
Excellent Communication Skills (Customer Service, Interviewing, Directing)
Expert understanding of Canon EOS Rebel T7i and Canon XA75 4K Camcorder

Work Experience

Arkansas Cinema Society June – August 2024

Intern
Served as Production Assistant for Girls’ Lab, a three-week camp for girls ages 15-18 focusing on all aspects of film production, including writing, editing, directing and filming.
Assisted with the planning and implementation of Filmland, ACS’s annual film festival
Assisted with set-up and organization of weekly film screenings

George’s, Little Rock, AR

Host and Back Waiter - June-August 2024

Heights Taco & Tamale, Little Rock, AR

Host and Food Runner - 2020-2023

Education

Loyola University Chicago - Expected Graduation May 2026

Multimedia Journalism Major with an emphasis on Film Studies

Little Rock Central High School - Graduated May 2022

GPA 3.65

Community Involvement

CARTI Cancer Center 2020-Present

Assist with all implementation aspects of Tour de Rock and Festival of Trees fundraising events

World Central Kitchen Feeding Program 2020

Assisted with preparation and packaging of meals for children and families in coordination with World Central Kitchen and the Clinton Presidential Center during the pandemic

Our House 2018-2020